SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Harrington Michael W

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

6950 SOUTH TRANSIT ROAD

(Street)

LOCKPORT

14094

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP INC [ FNFG ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	Chief Financial Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
11/01/2010

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	11/01/2010		A		3,948⁽¹⁾	A	$0	30,573	D
Common Stock								11,464	I	By 401k
Common Stock								2,925	I	By Esop
Common Stock								199	I	By Son
Common Stock								505	I	By Spouse

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$11.78							04/07/2004	04/07/2013	Common Stock	12,000		12,000	D
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$13.28							05/21/2004	05/21/2013	Common Stock	6,200		6,200	D
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$12.87							05/04/2005	05/04/2014	Common Stock	14,000		14,000	D
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$12.91							12/31/2005	05/03/2015	Common Stock	17,500		17,500	D
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$14.7							01/31/2008	01/31/2017	Common Stock	14,100		14,100	D
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$12.02							01/28/2009	01/28/2018	Common Stock	40,020		40,020	D
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$12.93							01/26/2010	01/26/2019	Common Stock	30,621		30,621	D
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$14.44							01/25/2011	01/25/2020	Common Stock	29,223		29,223	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents restricted stock that vests 100% on January 25, 2013.

	Ann M. Segarra, power of attorney for Michael W. Harrington	11/02/2010
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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